Play shelter



April 4, 1939. H. R. GOODALE PLAY SHELTER Filed May 6, 1937 /NVENTOR HAROL D RGOODALE 57 Patented pr. 4, 1939 lUNITI-:D STATES PATENT oFFlcs 6 Claims.

The following description relates to an invention in play shelters as illustrated on the accompanying drawing. Small children like to make use of miniature play houses, shelters, tents or the like which they may enter themselves and use for the placement of dolls, toys or other play equipment. Many play structures of this nature require extended space for installation or storage and are not Well adapted for the restricted living quarters now in vogue. My invention is developed around the use of a collapsible framework and specifically the square topped collapsible card table now in extended use. As these square tables are of general household utility and universally available, they render themselves readily to temporary use as part of play equipment. The play shelter using such a foundation or framework may then be given a satisfactory substantial appearance simulating an actual dwelling; canopy or tent by the use of a few simple parts.

It is an object of my invention to produce a play shelter simulating an actual shelter such as a miniature house or tent with a minimum of equipment and material.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a structure in a form which may be folded and stored in a compact receptacle which itself is made use of in the assembly of the shelter. A

An additional object of my invention is to provide facilities by which the skeleton or framework of the structure can be built up using the ordinary collapsible card table as a foundation or base. In this manner the final structure may vary from the proportions of the table either by additional height or extension of the ground plan.

Other objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of a preferred form supplemented by the accompanying illustrations in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the housing as assembled to simulate the two story dwelling;

Fig. 2 is an expanded perspective view of the receptacle and cover used in the assembly of the shelter and alternatively to house the material for storage;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation showing the opening in one side wall of the shelter;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the skeleton or framework comprised by a conventional card table and supplementary extensions for the legs;

Fig. 5 is a modified form of the shelter simulating a pyramidal tent;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe extension means shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same and Fig. 8 is a modified form of the support for the apex of the shelter.

As illustrated the novel play shelter simulates one or another form of housing structure and may either appear as a complete dwelling or as a temporary canopy or tent. The device is made of llight canvas or similar fabric and may be decorated to carry out the resemblance to a building' structure. Consistent with this the central support for the apex of the shelter may be made in the form of a chimney-as shown. The canvas or other fabric is stitched along its seams in the desired shapes and give reenforcement for example, along the roof line where the shelter is principally supported.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the sides II are vertical and decorated to resemble the side walls of a dwelling house. These side walls may have openings such as windows or doors. To allow a child to enter the house onel side wall is slit vertically as shown at I2 so that the iiaps I3, I3 may be turned back to aord entrance. The pyramidal roof Il is also made of like fabric and stitched at its lower edges to the top edges II thus forming a reenforcement along the roof line where the structure rests upon its support.

The support for the shelter consists of the well known collapsible card table I5 having a square top I6 and foldable legs Il.

In some instances the top It is not high enough to` permit a child to Walk under it and accordingly the side walls II may be lengthened a suitable distance. In such case the legs I "I of the table are mounted in U-shaped extensions I8 the upper portions of which are clamped on the legs I'I by means of bolts I9.

The pyramidal roof I4 is supported in distended position above the table top I@ by means of a member 2li. This member is a hollow rectangular prism which forms a receptacle'` or box to hold the cloth shelter during transport onsterage. The box 2U has a cover 2I fitting over the top. This cover has inwardly sloping shoulders 22 which conform to the pyramidal shapeV of the roof Ill andcoincide with the apex of the latter. A vertical extension 23 on the Vtop 2l projects through the square opening at the apex of the roof and gives the appearance of a chimney for the housing.

When it is desired to store the shelter the fabric parts. II andv I4 are lifted oif of the table and cover 2f. They canthenbe folded compactly and placed within the box 2B along with the extensions It and other incidental parts. The covered box is then a secure and satisfactory means for keeping the shelter in good condition.

Where it is unnecessary to provide storage for the device, the box 2l may be replaced by a pedestal support such as shown at 24 in Fig. 8. This has a base 25 and a top 2l the latter-simulating the chimney of a house. Any suitable means may be used for attaching the apex of the roof Il to the chimney` 2B. Y

The invention may also take the form of a pyramidal canopy or tent such as is illustrated in Fig. 5. Here the same table I6 and its-collapsible legs I1 are used to support the tent at its roof line. Box 20 rests upon the top of the table in a manner already described and has a cover 28 supporting the apex of thetent. In this instance the cover is either pyramldal or some stiiening means is inserted in the apex of the roof to maintain the desired peak.

In either event the roof I4 is continued up to Athis peak.

The side walls 29 are allowed to ilare outwardly of the base'to give greater space within the tent. As it is intended that the shelter be used indoors where convenient means are lacking for holding the lower edges of the side walls stretched. separate means are provided. At each corner of the lower edges of the tent a strut Il is sewed in such position as to extend radially toward the center of the tent. At the inner free end of each strut, attaching means are provided to hold the I ing member interposed between the table top and thesloping roof.

3. A play tent comprising a supporting table in combination' with a fabric shelter fitting over the table and having connected side walls with a sloping roof spaced from the table, a supporting member interposed between the table top and the roof, the supporting member having a portion simulating a chimney and projecting through a'hole in the roof.

ney and adapted to project through the opening, v-

the member being formed as a hollow box of a capacity to contain the shelter when the latter is folded.

6. A ioldable fabric play tent and a hollow support therefor, the support having a portion simulating a chimney and adapted to project through an opening in the tent, the support being formed as a covered shipping box o! a capacity to contain the tent when the latter is folded.

. HAROLD R. GOODALE. 

